The key to this project is a new router bit set designed expressly for french doors.
How to build exterior french door frame.
If you re not using premade jamb material or if your walls are a nonstandard thickness you can buy 5 or 6 inch wide lumber and rip cut it to the width of the wall using a table saw.
When building a door jamb to fit a standard wall with a two by four frame and 1 2 inch drywall on each side the width of the jamb board typically is 4 9 16 inches.
Buy the replacement door.
5 x research source you will need to add 1 2 of plywood between the 2x4 s to get the right wall thickness of 3 1 2.
Buy an unfinished french door frame or two single doors with pre cut centerpieces from your local lumber store.
However french doors are usually worth the extra effort for once they are up and everything is in order they make a handsome addition to your living space whether they are interior or exterior.
And for the greatest stability a major requirement for entry doors i decided to make the stiles and rails using stave construction a building method commonly used by exterior door manufacturers rather than solid lumber.
Framing for a french door is similar to framing for a single door except there are two doors and each door will be hung one on each side of the opening.
Measure the door frame.
After you find the width of the frame then calculate the height of the door frame.
Add those measurements to the size of both doors and add an additional 1 1 4 inch to obtain the final dimensions.
A door jamb is 1 inch thick has an additional 1 4 inch gap.
Measure the door frame to make sure the new doors will fit.
Building frame panel french doors in this video i make a set of custom frame panel french doors for my shop.
To make the door header the top of the door frame cut two 2x4s to the same length as the width of the original opening and nail them securely together.
If you are fitting french doors to what was an original wall or single door prepare the door frames and lintels beforehand.
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